On March 19, UMD's Department of Foreign Languages and Literature will kick off their second annual film series, hosted by the Zinema 2 theater in downtown Duluth.

The series will feature six films presented by each of the school's foreign studies sections, as well as the Cultural Entrepreneurship program. All screenings will be free for both students and the community.

According to Dr. Daniel Nolan, event organizer and Assistant Professor of German and Russian area studies, the films are centered upon the theme of "Building Bridges," or the forming of social bonds.

"We do this series because film is a very immersive medium," Nolan said. "There's something about a large screen in a dark room that allows you to really engage with the distinct ways in which ideas are seen and conveyed in other cultures.”

The five-day event will begin with a double feature on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. with a film presented by Dr. Natalie Belsky, Assistant Professor of Russian Studies. “The Cranes are Flying” is a 1957 film from Russian director Mikhail Kalatozov, which tells the story of two lovers in the aftermath of World War II.

"With this film, we get to see how one particular family is transformed by the war, a theme that remains all too relevant today," Belsky said.

According to Belsky, the film also represents a significant moment in Soviet film making history, when films began to steer away from flat propaganda in favor of more nuanced depictions of character.

"It showcases the many ways in which the war and the resulting losses profoundly affected and reshaped relations on the societal level," she said. "As well as that of the family and the individual."

Each film in the series will be followed by informal discussions for presenters and audience members, with free catering provided by the Zeitgeist Center.

"The goal is to watch great introductory films that open doors and start conversations," Nolan said. "It's a great chance to bring both the university and local community together to explore and enjoy foreign culture."

After Sunday, screenings will be held each night at 7 p.m. The series schedule is as follows:

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